Christian  Work 


EVANGELIZATION  COMMITTEE. 

Appointed  in  General  Assembly  at  Rome,  December,  1872 


A.  R.  Van  Nest,  D.  D. ,  American  Church,  Florence, 

President . 


Paolo  De-Michelis,  Evangelist  in  Pisa, 

Secretary. 

Francesco  Lagomarsino,  Evangelist  in  Milan. 

Alessandro  Gavazzi,  Evangelist  in  Rome. 

1 

Salvatore  Ferretti,  Evangelist  in  Florence. 

Signor  Jahier,  Evangelist  in  Florence. 

John  R.  MacDougall,  M.A.,  Scotch  Church,  Florence, 

Treasurer  and  Foreig?i  Secretary. 


AMERICAN  COMMISSIONER. 

This  is  to  certify  that  the  Rev.  John  B.  Thompson,  D.D.,is  hereby  commissioned  by 
the  Evangelization  Committee  of  the  Free  Italian  Church  to  proceed  to  America, 
to  further  the  interests  of  said  Church  by  representing  said  Church  at  the  judicatories 
of  sister  churches,  by  collecting  funds  for  the  general  work  of  the  Church,  and  espe¬ 
cially  for  the  support  of  the  Biblical  College  in  Rome. 

In  this  work  he  is  affectionately  and  earnestly  commended  to  the  Christians  of  that 
land. 

ABM.  R.  VAN  NEST,  Jr. 

President  of  Missionary  Committee . 

JOHN  R  MACDOUGALL, 

Florence,  Italy,  October  30,  1872.  Treasurer  and  Foreign  Secretary . 


I  approve  this  work  and  give  it  my  heart  y  commendation. 


HOWARD  CROSBY, 
WM.  H.  BOOLE, 

E.  P.  ROGERS, 

ROB’T.  R.  BOOTH, 
MORRIS  C.  SUTPHEN, 
CHARLES  F.  DEEMS, 


W.  ORMISTON, 

ROBERT  CAMERON, 

N.  W.  CONKLING, 

WM.  H.  FERRIS, 

GEORGE  B.  CHEEVER, 

and  others. 


New  York ,  Feb .  15,  1 873. 


Dear  Brother. — /  think  you  will  understand  this  work,  and  its 
“  Present  Need.”  (See  pp.  15,  16.) 

Mr.  MacDougall  zorites  me,  under  date  of  January  17; 

“  What  a  crisis  this  is  J  The  Society  in  New  York  fails  us, 
yet  such  is  the  divine  blessing  on  these  missions  that  we  have  to  go 
ahead.  We  have  taken  large  and  expensive  halls  both  in  Brescia 
and  Turin,  [where  great  revivals  are  in  progress .] 

41  We  all  feel  sure  that  God  will  not  desert  us.  If  this  isn't 
faith,  tell  me  what  is  it  ?  Please,  my  good  friend,  work  for  us 
in  this  crisis.” 

In  response  to  this  appeal  I  send  this  note  to  those  who  heard 
Signor  Gavazzi  last  Summer,  asking : 

1.  Can  you  not  secure  a  collection  for  this  work  in  its  present 
need  in  your  own  church  ? 

2.  Can  you  not  induce  the  Pastors  of  neighboring  churches  to 
interest  them  in  it  in  the  same  way  ? 

3.  Can  you  not  refer  the  matter  to  individuals  who  will  be  glad 
of  the  opportunity  to  do  good  here  and  now? 

Very  truly  yours. 


Office  of  Morpjs  K.  Jesup, 

59  Liberty  St.,  New  York. 


JOHN  B.  THOMPSON. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/freeitalianchurcOOunse_0 


Christian  SZftorfe  in  3Jtalp. 


THE 


FREE  ITALIAN  CHURCH. 


OCCASIONAL  PAPERS  NO.  II. 

EDITED  BY  JOHN  B.  THOMPSON, 

MINISTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 


NEW  YORK : 

American  Church  Press  Co.,  hi  East  Ninth  Street. 

1873. 


mr  See  “THE  PRESENT  NEED,”  p.  15. 


t 


4 


THE  FREE  ITALIAN  CHURCH. 


ORIGIN. 

Religious  freedom  came  to  Italy  in  1859.  The  most  notable 
circumstance  at  that  time  was  the  paucity  of  capable  laborers,  and, 
notwithstanding  all  that  has  been  done,  there  is  nothing  in  con¬ 
nection  with  all  the  Italian  evangelistic  agencies,  which  at  this  day 
strikes  the  intelligent  observer  more  than  the  greatness  of  the 
harvest,  and  the  fewness  of  the  laborers  worthy  of  their  hire. 

The  agency  which  God  has  most  conspicuously  blessed  from  the 
beginning  has  been  that  of  the  simple-hearted,  but  intrepid  colporteur, 
ranging  over  the  highways  and  byeways  of  the  peninsula.  In  con¬ 
nection  with  the  labors  of  these  godly  salesmen  of  the  Scriptures,  or 
through  the  visit  of  an  evangelist,  or  sometimes  without  any  apparent 
outward  means  of  grace,  revivals  of  religion  have  taken  place  these 
last  twenty  years,  on  a  larger  or  smaller  scale,  in  several  large  towns, 
such  as  Genoa,  Milan,  Florence,  and  in  many  outlying  country  dis¬ 
tricts. 

The  men  and  women  gathered  out  of  the  world  at  these  seasons 
of  gracious  visitation  have  regularly  assembled  for  worship.  Some¬ 
times  they  have  enjoyed  the  services  of  a  settled  evangelist ;  some¬ 
times  only  an  occasional  visit.  In  one  place  the  cause  has  grown 
and  flourished  ;  in  another  it  has  weakened  and  disappeared. 

The  isolated  congregations,  thus  gathered,  in  course  of  years 
became  acquainted  with  each  other.  A  longing  for  union  sprang 
up.  The  first  formal  effort,  in  1865,  seemed  to  produce  little  or  no 
practical  result.  Nevertheless  a  second  assembly  of  delegates  from 
these  congregations  was  convened  at  Milan  in  1870,  a  third  at  Flor¬ 
ence  in  1871,  and  the  fourth  at  Rome  in  1872. 

The  gratifying  feature  about  all  this  movement  is  that  no  foreign 
hand  has  intervened  ;  no  pressure  from  without  has  been  exercised. 
The  short  and  scriptural  declaration  of  principles,  and  the  simple 


4 


evangelistic  church  form,  which  constitute  the  basis  of  the  Free  Ital¬ 
ian  Church,  were  elaborated,  under  divine  guidance",  by  Italians  them¬ 
selves,  as  the  result  of  their  study  of  the  Word  of  God  and  experience 
of  church  discipline  and  order,  and  with  little  or  no  knowledge  of 
the  ecclesiastical  formulae  of  other  lands. 

There  must  be  few  men  whose  hearts  are  not  stirred  with  joy  at 
the  consummation  of  a  union  among  these  various  free  churches 
throughout  Italy  ;  for,  after  an  experience  of  fifty  years  in  the  mis¬ 
sionary  field,  the  Church  of  Christ  through  all  its  borders  has  now 
learned  the  truth,  that  we  have  accomplished  little  until,  through  our 
efforts  or  otherwise,  God  raises  up  a  native  organized  church  agency. 

There  are  no  agents  to  be  compared  with  the  men  of  a  country  for 
influencing  the  hearts  ot  their  fellows  with  the  truths  of  the  ever¬ 
lasting  Gospel. 

CHARACTER. 

It  used  to  be  said  that  these  dear  Christian  brethren  had  no 
Church  order.  In  presence  of  their  church  documents  this  can  no 
longer  be  said.  That  some  of  the  exiles  for  conscience’  sake  did 
drink  deeply  of  principles  antagonistic  to  good  order,  and  found  too 
willing  an  ear  upon  their  return  to  Italy  among  many  who  were  rush¬ 
ing  from  the  Church  of  Rome,  is  undoubtedly  true,  but  to  a  much 
smaller  extent  than  was  imagined,  and  the  evil  has  cured  itself  in  the 
course  of  years.  Desanctis,  Gavazzi,  Mazzarella,  and  a  host  of  others, 
though  evangelizing  in  these  various  congregations,  were  always 
anxious  to  secure  union  and  order. 

In  fact,  we  who  have  been  brought  up  Protestants  from  our  youth 
have  no  true  idea,  and  therefore  no  thorough  sympathy,  with  the 
position  and  feeling  of  men  who  flee  from  a  system  of  spiritual  t 

tyranny  with  the  New  Testament  in  their  hands.  How  natural  that 
for  a  time  some  should  go  to  the  other  extreme  !  How  natural  their 
repugnance  to  priestcraft,  and  their  attachment  to  a  simple  scriptural 
form  of  the  Lord’s  Supper,  instead  of  receiving  the  wafer  from  the 
hands  of  £  priest  !  How  natural  their  dislike  of  even  a  few  saints’ 
days  in  the  calendar  of  the  Evangelical  Church  !  How  natural  their 
thirst  for  the  preaching  of  a  living  Saviour  and  a  present  salvation, 
instead  of  the  doctrines  about  Christ  and  a  cold  morality  !  How 
natural  their  belief  in  the  independence  and  autonomy  of  a  congre- 


5 


gation  of  converted  men  and  women  ;  and  that,  instead  of  depend¬ 
ing  upon  the  will  of  an  evangelist,  however  excellent,  its  own 
appointed  elders  and  deacons  in  every  city  should  discharge  zealously 
the  duties  of  their  office  !  Would  to  God  that  we  had  everywhere 
such  childlike  faith  and  active  piety  ! 

Such  is  the  origin  and  standing  of  the  Free  Italian  Church, 
which  claims  as  its  ancestors  the  Paleareos  and  Carnesecchis  of  the 
Reformation  period.  Its  ministry  and  membership  are  wholly 
Italian.  No  Swiss,  German,  or  English  throng  its  services.  Now 
that  this  little  sister  has  entered  the  family  of  Evangelical  Churches, 
is  it  too  much  to  hope  that  she  will  receive  much  nurturing  care 
and  fostering  kindness  from  Christians  throughout  the  world  ? 

i 

THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLIES. 

The  General  Assembly  is  composed  of  deputies  from  the  united 
churches.  Each  church  may  send  one,  two,  or  three  representatives. 

MILAN,  1870. 

A  great  longing  for  a  united  effort  in  the  evangelization  of  their 
native  land  had  grown  up  in  the  hearts  of  many  converted  Italians  ; 
and,  amid  fear  and  trembling,  and  yet  calm  hopefulness,  they  met, 
for  the  second  time,  in  the  commercial  metropolis  of  Northern  Italy 
in  1870.  The  Lord  was  gracious,  and  heard  their  prayers.  Not 
only  was  an  outward  union  formed  between  the  churches,  but  a 
spirit  of  union  dwelt  in  the  hearts,  and  appeared  in  all  the  proceed¬ 
ings  of  the  Assembly.  Those  who  were  present  speak  of  the  fervent 
charity  and  brotherly  affection  which  prevailed.  The  result  of  the 
deliberations  at  Milan  was  the  unanimous  adoption,  after  prolonged 
consideration,  of  a  short,  simple,  and  scriptural  Confession  of  Faith, 
which  has  been  everywhere  accepted  as  a  substantially  satisfactory 
enunciation  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Christian  faith. 
This  is  printed  on  the  third  page  of  the  cover  of  this  paper. 

These  articles  are  held  to  suffice  as  a  testimony  of  a  Christianity 
purely  evangelical,  without  pretending  that  there  are  no  other  doctrines 
in  the  Bible  to  be  believed.  It  is  also  clearly  asserted  that  this 
<(  Declaration  of  Principles  ”  does  not  pretend  to  infallibility.  The 
Word  of  God  is  alone  infallible  and  immutable.  Nor  is  it  looked 


6 


upon  as  the  cause  of  or  title  to  salvation,  but  simply  as  the  outward 
bond  of  unity  in  the  faith  and  the  banner  of  the  Church. 

FLORENCE,  1 87 1. 

The  Florence  Assembly  was  looked  forward  to  with  deep  interest, 
and  much  prayer  by  individuals  and  Churches  in  various  lands,  who, 
taught  by  experience  in  the  Missionary  field,  hail  the  advent  of  a 
native  Evangelical  Italian  Church.  It  was  unavoidable  that  false 
reports  should  go  ahead,  and  frighten  many|brethren.  It  was  not 
to  be  expected  that,  in  their  inexperience,  either  Italian  Evangelists  ^ 

or  Churches  would  be  proof  against  the  flying  rumours  that  the 
Assembly  was  to  be  an  (Ecumenical  Council,  that  it  was  to  meet  for 
the  imposition  of  a  liturgy,  and  otherwise  for  the  refastening  of 
grievous  burdens  on  the  shoulders  of  those  who  were  now  the  Lord's 
freemen.  These  and  other  causes  prevented  the  appearance  of  dele¬ 
gates  from  various  Churches.  The  Assembly,  however,  was  a  great 
success.  Strangers  present  were  struck,  not  only  with  the  oratorical 
ability,  but  with  the  independent  thought  and  business  qualities  of 
the  members.  Not  a  few  showed  that  statesmanlike  ability  which 
marks  out  the  Christian  men  everywhere  who  know  what  Israel  ought 
to  do.  But  the  brotherly  love  and  mutual  forbearance  which  reigned 
supreme  amid  the  various  discussions  was  observed  by  all,  and  led 
to  continual  expressions  of  gratitude  to  Him  who  is  the  author  of 
peace  and  lover  of  concord.  Twenty-three  churches  sent  formal 
mandates,  and  four  other  Evangelists  were  present  from  stations 
where  as  yet  the  Church  had  not  been  organized,  or  where  time  had 
failed  them  to  obtain  the  necessary  documents.  These  gentlemen, 
two  of  whose  churches  after  the  Assembly  sent  their  formal  ad- 
hesion  to  the  united  body,  were  allowed  a  consultative,  but  not 
a  deliberative  vote.  It  was  desired  on  all  hands  to  proceed  in  an 
orderly  fashion  and  establish  a  valuable  precedent  for  the  future. 

At  different  sittings  the  Evangelists  narrated  the  history  and  ongoing 
of  the  work  in  their  respective  localities,  and  also  presented  reports, 
which  were  printed  with  the  other  documents  of  the  Assembly  for 
the  information  of  friends  of  the  Free  Italian  Church. 


7 


CONSTITUTION. 

And  yet,  although  this  united  Church  had  been  formed  with  the 
supreme  view  of  evangelizing  the  country,  according  to  its  means  in 
men  and  money,  the  chief  business  of  this  year  was  necessarily  the 
adoption  of  a  general  constitution.  This  was  gone  about  with  much 
solemnity,  prayer,  and  deliberation.  A  commission,  which  two 
days  before  had  been  elected  to  study  the  subject  and  report,  laid 
article  after  article  before  the  Assembly.  In  order  to  avoid  all  risks 
of  hurry  or  misunderstanding,  it  was  again  resolved  to  proceed 
I  only  by  unanimous  vote,  which  involves  much  more  discussion  and 

greater  loss  of  time  than  voting  by  majority,  although  in  matters  of 
faith  and  discipline  one  cannot  but  admire  the  patience  and  com¬ 
mon-sense  of  these  brethren,  in  laying  so  carefully  and  well  the 
foundations  of  the  edifice. 

The  constitution  thus  adopted  was  printed  in  my  first  paper  on 
this  subject,  issued  in  May  last.  I  need  not,  therefore,  speak  of  it 
in  detail  m  this  place.  Suffice  it  to  say  that,  on  the  one  hand,  the 
liberty  and  independence  of  the  several  Churches  has  been  most 
jealously  guarded  ;  while,  on  the  other,  every  security  for  order, 
stability,  and  united  effort  in  carrying  out  the  great  end  of  a  Christian 
Church,  the  ingathering  of  precious  souls,  has  been  fully  guaranteed. 
What  commends  this  code  most  of  all  is  the  fact  that  it  has  been 
elaborated  by  Italians,  and  from  their  own  experience  and  sound 
judgment.  Nothing  has  been  imported  from  without.  Not  a  trace 
of  pressure  or  influence  from  abroad  is  visible.  A  Church  com¬ 
posed  of  Italians  born  and  bred,  of  men  and  women  who  have 
escaped  from  the  Church  of  Rome,  to  be  acceptable  in  the  land, 
must  necessarily  take  its  every  hue  and  its  entire  form  according  to 
the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  the  people  themselves. 

rome,  1872. 

The  Fourth  General  Assembly  of  the  Free  Italian  Church  opened 
its  sittings  on  Wednesday  morning,  December  4,  at  No.  9,  Via 
Corallo,  in  the  city  of  Rome.  After  praise  and  prayer,  the  inaugural 
discourse  was  delivered  by  Signor  Lagomarsino,  the  president  of 
last  year’s  Assembly  in  Florence,  and  pastor  of  one  of  the  largest 
churches  in  Italy,  that  of  Milan,  containing  about  five  hundred 


8 


members  in  full  communion.  The  text  was  Eph.  iv.  i-io,  from 
wrhich  a  most  correct  exhortation  to  Christian  humility  was  addressed 
to  the  membership,  as  well  as  the  pastorate  of  the  church. 

The  Assembly  was  very  strict  in  examining  the  credentials  of  the 
deputies.  Those  of  Genoa,  Canneto,  Conegliano,  were,  with  several 
others,  held  invalid,  as  the  act  of  adhesion  had  not  been  presented 
and  accepted  by  the  Evangelization  Committee,  the  executive  of  the 
Church.  Four  Evangelists  were  permitted,  as  last  year,  to  exercise 
a  consultative  but  not  a  deliberative  vote,  as  they  came  from  districts 
where  as  yet  Churches  had  not  been  organized,  or  because  they 
were  not  provided  with  proper  credentials  as  delegates  of  the  Churches. 

Some  of  the  Churches,  as  usual,  in  such  assemblies,  were  not  rep¬ 
resented. 

Exclusive  of  the  above  there  were  twenty-eight  Churches,  repre¬ 
sented  by  twenty-nine  deputies;  namely, — Rome,  Poggio  Mirteto, 
Florence,  Leghorn  in  Tuscany,  and  Leghorn  near  Vercelli,  Pisa, 
Ghezzano,  Pistoia,  Prato,  Portoferraio,  Bologna,  Milan^Treviglio, 
Caravaggio,  Brescia,  Edolo,  Verona,  Treviso,  Udine,  Como,  Bas- 
signana,  San  Mauro,  Fara,  Sondrio,  San  Giovanni  Pellice,  Spezia, 
Pietra  Ligure,  and  Carrara.  The  Evangelist  at  Turin  wrote  that  he 
could  not  come,  because  of  the  revival  going  on  in  his  Church, 
the  meetings  being  crowded  night  after  night  with  people  eager  to 
\hear  the  word  of  God.  Professor  de  Michelis,  of  Pisa,  was 
chosen  president ;  Signor  Jahier,  vice-president ;  and  Signori  Cocorda 
and  Jahier,  secretaries.  No  more  fitting  selection  of  men  could 
have  been  made.  The  choice  for  the  presidential  chair  was  a 
peculiarly  happy  one.  Signor  de  Michelis  is  not  only  an  able 
Evangelist  of  the  Cross,  and  a  man  of  great  eloquence  and  deep 
spirituality  of  mind,  but  he  has  had  the  advantage  of  a  legal  educa¬ 
tion  and  long  experience  in  presiding  over  large  societies  of  artisans 
in  Pisa,  where  flourishing  schools  attest  his  intelligent  devotion  to 
the  cause  of  Christ.  The  dignity,  perspicuity,  promptitude,  and 
geniality  which  he  displayed  on  all  occasions  greatly  enhanced  the 
comfort  of  the  members  and  the  good  order  of  the  proceedings. 

It  was  specially  interesting  to  a  stranger  to  notice  the  ability  and 
impartiality  with  which  he  summed  up,  like  a  Judge  on  the  Bench, 
the  arguments  in  each  case  before  putting  the  question.  For  this 
his  legal  education  has  doubtless  given  him  unusual  ability.  There 


9 


were  many  Americans  and  Englishmen  present,  all  of  whom  were 
struck  with  the  dignity  and  decorum  of  the  proceedings.  In  these 
respects  the  meetings  would  compare  favorably  with  those  of  any  of 
our  Ecclesiastical  Assemblies  at  home.  Enough  to  say  that  the 
deliberations  were  worthy  of  the  first  really  free  Church  Assembly 
in  Rome,  since  the  days  of  the  Apostles.  Many  Protestant  Clergy¬ 
men  present  spoke,  on  invitation,  words  of  hearty  sympathy  and 
encouragement,  which  fell  most  gratefully  on  the  ears  of  these  breth¬ 
ren  who  have  heretofore  known  little  of  the  comfort  which  comes 
from  such  fraternity. 

-  PLACES  OF  WORSHIP. 

The  need  of  a  local  habitation  for  all  the  evangelistic  operations  of 
the  Church  was  never  more  clearly  seen  than  at  the  time  of  the 
Assembly.  In  addition  to  the  annoyances  of  the  past  two  years, 
the  Society  for  Catholic  Interests  had  actually  planned  to  eject  the 
Free  Church  from  its  three  locales  (places  of  worship)  on  the  last 
day  of  November.  By  working  upon  the  fears  and  prejudices  of 
landlords,  by  secretly  offering  higher  prices,  and  by  such  other 
means  as  are  still  available  where  the  secular  arm  can  no  longer  be 
directly  invoked  for  the  persecution  of  heretics,  it  succeeded  in  re¬ 
gard  to  two  of  them,  and  is  now  hopefully  before  the  tribunals  in 
reference  to  the  third.  Of  course  other  locales  have  been  found,  but 
the  Church  and  schools  suffer  immensely  by  removals. 

SCHOOLS. 

On  Thursday,  December  5,  a  school  festival  was  held,  in  presence 
of  a  large  gathering  of  parents,  members  of  Assembly,  and  Christian 
strangers.  The  two  hundred  children  connected  with  the  Free  Church 
schools  were  examined,  during  three  hours,  on  all  the  branches 
of  a  good  Christian  education.  Hymns  were  sung  and  prizes  dis¬ 
tributed,  and  great  satisfaction  was  expressed  on  all  hands. 

SUNDAY  SERVICES. 

On  Sabbath,  December  8,  Dr.  Van  Nest  and  Signor  Gavazzi 
preached  in  the  American  Union  Church  in  Rome,  and  Mr. 


IO 


MacDougall  preached  in  the  Scotch  Church.  The  Italian  brethren 
met  together,  morning  and  evening,  and  celebrated  the  Lord’s  Sup¬ 
per.  Several  of  them  preached  in  other  places  of  worship  in  Rome, 
at  the  request  of  brethren  of  different  denominations. 

PRIVATE  SITTINGS. 

Several  private  sittings  of  the  Assembly  were  held  for  investigating 
and  discussing  matters  of  a  more  delicate  nature.  Respecting  these 
the  Rev.  John  R.  MacDougall,  (to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  all  the 
statements  in  this  paper  the  facts  of  which  have  not  come  under 
my  personal  observation),  writes  :  I  would  have  preferred  had  the  > 
meetings  been  public  throughout.  After  attending  these  private 
meetings,  I  saw  and  heard  nothing  which  the  outside  public  might 
not  have  seen  and  heard  to  edification.  But  it  was  the  feeling  of 
judicious  Italian  men  that  in  Rome,  and  not  knowing  who  might 
be  overhearing  the  debates  in  our  Assembly,  where  every  one  has 
the  full  right  of  speech,  with  matters  involving  personal  feeling  in 
relation  to  other  Christian  Churches,  and  with  some  members  un¬ 
trained  to  public  discussion,  one  or  two  private  meetings  were 
more  suitable.  Italians  are  certainly  the  best  judges  in  their  own 
affairs,  and  it  is  better  to  err  on  the  side  of  prudence  and  discretion. 

As  it  was,  the  public  would  have  rejoiced  to  see  the  courtesy  and 
charity  displayed,  and  the  unanimity  of  sentiment  attained,  where 
possible  differences  had  been  anticipated. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  “  Regolamento,”  or  constitution,  last 
year,  certain  opponents  of  this  work  visited  Milan,  and  went  from 
house  to  house  among  the  members  of  the  Church,  frightening  some 
of  the  weaker  brethren  about  the  new  hierarchy  (!)  that  had  been 
set  up,  and  the  new  Papacy  that  had  been  established.  The  two  f 
Evangelists  from  Milan  very  naturally  asked  the  Assembly  to  do 
something  to  calm  the  fears  of  ihe  ignorant  and  unlearned,  and 
were  overjoyed  when  there  was  an  addition  to  the  “ constitution,” 

“for  the  work  of  evangelization  ” — the  great  aim,  of  course,  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  in  the  world. 

EVANGELIZATION. 

The  real  business  of  the  Assembly,  and  that  which  constitutes  it 
a  fresh  starting-point  in  the  history  of  the  Free  Italian  Church,  be- 


gan  on  Monday,  December  9.  On  that  and  the  two  following  days 
both  the  morning  and  evening’s  sittings  were  devoted  to  the  discus¬ 
sion  of  all  the  great  questions  connected  with  the  evangelization  of 
Italy. 

Signor  Ferretti,  who,  though  extremely  feeble,  was  able  to  join  in 
the  Roman  gathering,  read  a  general  paper  of  a  historical  character, 
showing  that  Italy  has  never,  since  the  days  of  Paul,  been  deprived 
of  witnesses  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  giving  ample  details 
as  to  the  revival  in  modern  times  of  the  Italian  Evangelization  move¬ 
ment.  Thereafter,  four  Evangelists  introduced  the  discussion  on 
these  four  prominent  topics,  in  relation  to  one  or  other  of  which  all 
matters  relating  to  evangelization  were  treated,  namely  : 

Who  ought  to  evangelize  P 

How  ought  he  to  evangelize  P 

Where  ought  he  to  evangelize  P 

When  ought  he  to  evangelize  P 

Signor  Gavazzi,  in  introducing  the  first  topic,  delivered  one  ot 
the  most  eloquent  spiritual  addresses  ever  uttered.  He  clearly 
showed  the  necessity  for  the  Ministry  of  a  distinct  call  of  God,  the 
possession  of  the  requisite  gifts,  and  also  of  the  highest  preparatory 
training,  so  as  to  combat  every  phase  of  Romanist  and  Rationalistic 
error.  Signori  De-Michelis,  Cocorda,  Lagomarsino,  Conti,  Beria 
Borgia,  Jahier,  and  others,  joined  in  these  evangelistic  conferences, 
and  great  light  was  thrown  on  the  relations  of  the  Evangelists  and 
Elders  of  churches,  and  of  the  Evangelists ,  Colporteur-Evangelists , 
and  Teacher -Evangelists  to  one  another. 

CLOSING  EXERCISES. 

It  was  resolved  to  hold  the  next  General  Assembly  at  Pisa,  on  the 
first  week  of  December,  1873. 

Dr.  Van  Nest,  Pastor  of  the  American  Union  Church  in  Florence, 
expressed  his  belief  that  the  whole  action  and  discussion  which  had  \ 
taken  place  would  have  done  honor  to  any  assembly  or  any  Church 
of  Christ,  and  saluted  the  brethren  in  the  name  of  the  many 
Americans  whom  he  had  introduced  to  the  Assembly,  and  of  thou¬ 
sands  of  loving  and  sympathizing  hearts  in  the  United  States. 

In  order  to  authenticate  to  all  coming  ages  the  fact  of  the  meeting 


12 


of  this  Assembly  in  Rome,  a  public  notary  was  introduced.  The 
Assembly  received  him,  standing.  He  read  a  long  preamble,  and 
then  the  Deputies  adhibited  their  names,  and  the  document  was  de¬ 
posited  in  the  archives  of  the  kingdom  of  Italy. 

.The  President  delivered  an  appropriate  closing  address,  referring 
to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  our  present  meeting,  to  the 
unanimity  and  brotherly  love  which  had  prevailed,  and  to  the  evident 
tokens  of  God’s  presence  and  blessing  upon  the  Assembly.  After  a 
hymn  of  praise  to  God,  he  declared  the  Assembly  dissolved. 

The  day  following,  the  Deputies  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing 
some  of  the  antiquities  of  Rome,  while  the  Evangelization  Com¬ 
mittee  (the  same  as  that  of  last  year,  except  that  the  name  of  Signor 
Jahier  has  been  added)  was  occupied  with  the  affairs  of  the  different 
stations  of  evangelization  over  the  country. 

During  the  Assembly,  much  social  intercourse  was  enjoyed,  the 
members  dining  and  supping  together  ;  and  a  photograph  of  the 
united  body  was  taken  in  the  Mausoleum  of  Augustus.  The 
Deputies  had  also  an  opportunity  of  purchasing  copies  of  the  first 
edition  of  the  New  Testament  which  has  just  been  published,  close 
by  the  Vatican,  for  the  Italian  Bible  Society.  Many  of  them  also 
carried  away  the  photograph  of  Paleareo,  one  of  the  martyrs  of 
\  three  centuries  ago,  in  Italy,  the  Cicero  of  the  country,  as  he  was 
called,  and  the  author  of  a  Puritan  treatise  worthy  of  the  pen  of  a 
Bunyan  or  a  Baxter,  entitled  “  Benefits  of  the  Death  of  Christ.  ” 
Some  months  ago,  Signor  Spina  (a  Christian  brother,  who  has  lost 
official  patronage  because  of  his  course  in  this  matter),  a  photo¬ 
grapher  of  Rome,  was  in  Veroli,  the  native  place  of  Paleareo,  and, 
searching  through  the  Communal  Library,  came  upon  an  original 
portrait.  The  priests  tried  opposition  and  bribery,  but  in  vain  ;  and 
the  photograph  is  now  sold  with  the  certificate  attached  of  the  Syndic 
and  Librarian  of  Veroli. 


'  AMERICAN  DEPUTATION  OF  1872. 

Early  in  the  session  of  the  Assembly,  it  was  my  privilege  to  speak 
and  report  to  these  brethren  the  deep  interest  felt  in  their  work 
by  Christians  of  every  name  in  America.  The  facts  thus 
stated,  authenticated  as  they  were  by  the  accompanying  funds, 


i3 


seemed  to  touch  every  heart.*  A  silence  fell  upon  the  Assembly, 

broken  only  by  a  voice,  well-nigh  choking  for  utterance,  pro- 

« 

posing  a  special  service  of  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for  the 
help  thus  vouchsafed.  This  proposal  was  instantly  carried  into 
effect.  The  President  called  upon  one  of  the  brethren  to  lead 
in  prayer,  which  he  did,  all  standing.  The  expressions  of  gratitude 
to  which  he  gave  utterance,  and  especially  the  blessings  the  Assembly 
invoked  upon  those  who  thus  aided  them  in  their  work,  I  can 
never  forget.  I  only  wish  the  donors  themselves  could  have  heard 
them.  If  God  hears  prayer,  then  must  such  petitions  bring  down 
+  blessing  upon  those  in  whose  behalf  they  were  offered.  In  this  land 
it  is  impossible  for  us  adequately  to  appreciate  the  fervency  and  zeal 
of  a  Church  still  sitting  under  the  cross  of  Papal  persecution,  none 
the  less  real,  albeit  not  now  of  fire  and  fagot. 

I  need  not  add  further  details  respecting  this  meeting  of  the 
General  Assembly,  as  the  Minutes  will  soon  be  published,  together 
with  the  reports  of  the  Evangelists  and  of  the  Treasurer.  It  is 
proposed  to  translate  these,  or  such  portions  of  them  as  may  be  of 
general  interest,  and  issue  them  at  an  early  date  in  the  English  lan¬ 
guage.  Copies  will  gladly  be  sent  to  any  who  will  do  the  trouble 

» 

to  write  for  them. 


THE  EVANGELIZATION  COMMITTEE. 

This  Committee  is  elected  annually  by  the  General  Assembly. 

The  office  of  the  Committee  is  to  superintend  the  work  of  Evan¬ 
gelization  ;  to  collect  the  funds  necessary  for  the  work  ;  to  help 
such  laborers  as  are  related  to  it,  or  received  by  it  to  the  work  ; 
and  to  provide  the  necessary  training  for  the  work,  properly  direct- 
ng  and  inspecting  the  teaching. 

The  Committee  exercises  the  executive  and  administrative  power, 
and,  in  the  absence  of  the  Assembly,  is  the  legal  representative  of 
the  Free  Christian  Church  in  Italy.  Consequently,  all  its  acts  are 
done  in  the  name  of  the  Church. 

Every  year,  at  the  opening  of  the  Assembly,  the  Committee  ceases 


*  The  contributions,  as  acknowledged  in  the  Christian  World amount  to  $18,333  .  76. 


14 


from  its  functions,  and  intrusts  to  the  Examining  Committee  the 
report  of  its  doings,  to  be  verified,  discussed,  and  approved  by  the 
said  Assembly. 

The  President  of  this  Committee  is  an  American  Clergyman,  and 
the  Treasurer  and  Foreign  Secretary  a  Scotch  Clergyman  ;  all  the 
rest  are  native  Italian  Evangelists. 

Remittances  of  funds  collected  for  Evangelization  are  made  direct 
to  the  Treasurer,  by  whom  they  are  invested  and  paid  out,  under 
direction  of  the  Committee.  Every  possible  security  is  taken  to 
guard  against  any  waste  or  misappropriation  of  funds.  Indeed,  one 
chief  object  of  the  organization  of  this  Church,  and  the  appointment 
of  this  Committee,  was  to  systematize  the  work  and  correct  abuses 
which  inevitably  grew  up  under  that  lack  of  system  in  which  every 
man  did  that  which  was  right  in  his  own  eyes,  collected  whatever 
funds  he  could,  and  rendered  account  to  none.  Now,  all  the  ex¬ 
penses  are  systematized,  minute  accounts  kept,  regularly  inspected 
and  published  for  the  information  of  all  interested. 

The  accurate  system  which  has  been  thus  established  is  chiefly  due 
to  the  business  knowledge  and  habits  of  the  efficient  Treasurer. 
The  following  statements  show  in  what  estimation  he  and  his 
work  are  held  by  those  familiar  with  them. 


College  of  New  Jersey, 

Princeton,  N.  J Jan.  25,  1873. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  MacDougall,  of  Florence,  has  the  confidence  of  the  friends  of  the 
Evangelization  of  Italy,  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  as  a  man  of  activity  and  sound 
judgment,  an  excellent  and  trustworthy  man  of  business  and  well-fitted  to  take  charge 
of  the  funds  contributed  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  in  Italy.  r~* 

James  McCosh. 


New  York,  Jan.  31,  1873. 

Somewhat  extensive  inquiries,  while  l  was  in  Italy,  among  those  familiar  with  the 
religious  movements  in  that  country,  and  constant  study  of  those  movements  since  my 
return,  fully  convince  me  that  the  Free  Italian  Church  opens  the  best  door  for  efficient 
and  hopeful  religious  operations  among  the  Italian  people.  The  clearest  signs  of  an 
Evangelical  revival  are  to  be  found  there  ;  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  our  countrymen 
who  look  and  pray  for  a  Gospel  dawn  on  that  beautiful  and  most  interesting  land,  will 


15 


aid,  to  the  full  extent  of  their  ability,  in  carrying  out  the  plans  of  the  Italian  Com¬ 
mittee,  whom  Dr.  Thompson  represents. 

I  am  acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  MacDougall,  the  Treasurer.  Any  moneys 
placed  under  his  care  will  be  wisely  and  usefully  expended. 

Thos.  E.  Vermilye, 

Pastor  R.  P.  D.  C.,  New  York . 


Boston,  January  31,  1873. 

Having  visited  Brother  MacDougall  at  Florence  and  made  minute  inquiries  while 
there  respecting  his  work  in  Italy,  as  well  as  conversed  with  leading  Christian  brethren 
in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent,  I  can  assure  those  interested  in  this  work  that 
%  their  funds  cannot  go  into  safer  or  more  prudent  hands. 


James  B.  Dunn. 


I  have  great  pleasure  in  commending  Rev.  Dr.  MacDougall  and  his  work  to  the 
confidence  of  Christians  in  America,  from  a  personal  acquaintance  with  him. 

A.  S.  Barnes. 

THE  PRESENT  NEED. 

Thirteen  of  the  congregations  belonging  to  the  Free  Italian  Church 
have  been  gathered,  and  supported  by  American  agency.  The  work 
was  begun  in  the  year  1858  by  the  American  and  Foreign  Christian 
Union,  under  the  direction  of  the  late  Dr.  Baird  of  blessed  memory. 
There  are  many  who  will  recollect  the  deep  interest  he  took  in  Italian 
Evangelization  down  to  the  day  of  his  death.  That  Society  has  con¬ 
tinued  the  work,  with  increasing  vigor,  until  the  present  time.  On 
the  fifth  day  of  the  present  month,  however,  these  infant  Churches 
received  notice  from  that  Society  of  its  “financial  disability  to  sus¬ 
tain  these  Missions  after  March  31,  1873  ;  and  of  the  consequent 
decision  to  discontinue  its  appropriations  to  them  from  that  date  !” 

These  congregations  have  grown  up  from  the  smallest  beginnings, 
and  are  composed  mostly  of  the  poor,  unable,  as  yet,  to  support  their 
Evangelists.  How  shall  these  self-denying  Evangelists  be  supported  ? 
How  shall  these  churches  be  sustained  ?  They  will  do  all  they  can  them¬ 
selves,  but  they  can  do  very  little,  scarcely  a  tithe  of  what  is  neces¬ 
sary  to  be  done.  Shall  these  churches  and  schools  be  closed  just 
now  when  God  is  blessing  the  work  so  much  more  than  ever  before  ? 
Shall  these  Evangelists  be  sent  back  to  manual  labor  for  their  sub- 


sistence,  and  no  more  be  privileged  to  feed  the  people  with  the 
Bread  of  Life  ?  It  cannot  be.  It  must  not  be  !  If  we  were  ever 
sincere  in  praying  God  to  open  Italy  to  the  Gospel  now  is  the  time 
to  show  that  sincerity  by  deeds.  The  remittance  for  March  will  be 
the  last  made  by  the  American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union.  The 
contributions  of  last  year,  which  have  been  invested,  may  be  drawn 
upon  for  a  little  time  ;  but  what  then  ? 

Will  not  individuals  and  churches  to  whom  this  information  may 
come  make  contributions  to  the  work ,  without  further  appeal ,  and  that 
speedily  P 

Are  there  not  many  churches  that  will  be  glad  to  put  this  cause 
upon  their  list  for  a  regular  annual  collection  ? 

Will  not  pastors  interested  in  the  work  bring  this  matter  before 
their  people  ?  The  undersigned  will  be  glad  to  render  any  aid  or 
information  in  his  power. 

Address  (by  letter  only) 

JOHN  B.  THOMPSON, 

Office  of  Morris  K.  Jesup, 

59  Liberty  street, 

New  York. 

New  York,  January , 


N.  B. — These  “Occasional  Papers’7  will  be  forwarded  to  all 
Friends  and  Subscribers  to  the  Free  Italian  Church,  who  are  earnestly 
invited  to  interest  others  in  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  in  Italy. 


V 


DECLARATION  OF  PRINCIPLES. 


Adopted  unanimously  in  General  Assembly  at  Milan,  June,  1870. 

1  God,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  has  manifested  His  will  in  Revelation, 
which  is  the  Bible,  the  alone  perfect  and  immutable  rule  of  faith  and  conduct. 

2  God  created  man  perfect  in  His  own  image  and  likeness,  but  Adam,  disobeying 
the  Word  of  God,  sinned,  and  thus  by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world  and  death 
by  sin.  On  this  account,  human  nature  in  Adam  and  by  Adam  has  become  corrupt  and 
sinful  5  and  we  are  all  born  in  Adam  with  the  inclination  to  do  evil,  and  the  inability  of 
doing  well  what  God  has  commanded  ;  wherefore,  naturally,  we  are  all  sinneis  under 
condemnation. 

3.  God  does  not  desire  the  death  of  the  sinner,  but  that  he  should  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  and  be  saved. 

4.  Salvation  comes  from  the  eternal  and  gratuitous  love  of  the  Father  ;  it  is 
obtained  through  the  expiatory  sacrifice,  resurrection,  and  intercession  of  the  Son  ;  it  is 
communicated  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  regenerates  the  sinner,  unites  him  to  Christ 
by  faith,  comes  and  dwells  in  him,  produces  peace  in  his  heart,  giving  him  the  assur¬ 
ance  of  the  entire  remission  of  his  sins,  making  him  free,  guiding  and  consoling  him 
by  means  of  the  Word  which  He  Himself  has  given,  sealing  and  guarding  him  until 
the  day  of  the  glorious  appearing  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

5.  The  Christian,  redeemed  with  a  great  price,  ought  to  glorify  God  in  his  soul, 
body,  and  spirit,  which  belong  to  God,  walking  in  holiness,  without  which  no  man 
can  see  the  Lord.  In  order  to  do  this,  he  finds  strength  in  communion  with  Him 
who  says  to  him,  {<  My  grace  is  sufficient  fdr  thee.” 

6.  Believers,  regenerated  in  Christ,  form  the  Church,  which  cannot  perish  nor 
apostatize,  being  the  body  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

7.  In  addition  to  the  universal  priesthood  of  believers,  God  Himself  has  established 
in  the  Church  various  special  ministers,  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints  and  the  edifying 
of  the  body  of  Christ,  which  ministries  ought  to  be  recognized  by  the  Church  itself. 

8.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  will  come  from  heaven  and  transform  our  body  of 
humiliation  into  a  glorious  body.  In  that  day  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first,  and 
the  living  who  are  found  faithful  shall  be  transformed,  and  thus  together  shall  we  be 
caught  up  in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  to  be  forever  with  the  Lord;  and, 
after  H  is  Kingdom,  all  the  rest  shall  rise  to  be  judged  in  judgment. 


r*. 


: 


i 


/ 


